Sociolinguistics Introduction

Author: Masanori Sato et al. (Japan), translated by Wang Sumei et al.
Translator: Wang Sumei, Peng Guoyue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-11-01
Features: Below is a brief introduction to the research content of each field.
(1) Primarily from the perspective of academic history, it reviews the guiding principles and methodologies of sociolinguistic research.
(2) Subsequent chapters focus on each specific research object, so the research fields of (1) and (2) belong to different levels.
(2) Explores the usage of language from the perspective of "attribute theory." Even in the same era, a language may vary due to differences in the speaker's region, age, gender, identity, education, etc. In research on this aspect, it is particularly noteworthy that the study of language and gender from the modern feminist perspective has emerged in recent years. Additionally, Kajita Takeji (1978) proposed the concept of "group language." It refers to the special or distinctive expressions used by specific social groups or professional fields. The specific groups here not only refer to antisocial groups like thieves' gangs or the black society but also include various social groups such as political parties, enterprises, trade unions, and even right-wing groups. The professional fields are also not limited to those divided by occupation but include fields such as sports, arts, and technology.
(3) Primarily from the perspective of context (speaker, speaking location, topic, etc., the environmental conditions of communication) explores how specific language variations arise and the role context plays in this process.
(4) Primarily studies the relationship between living environment, living time, and language, attempting to grasp the laws and patterns of language use as a whole. This field includes the study of media topics and onomastics.
(5) Conducts a static description of phenomena arising from the contact of different language systems and forms. On the macro level, it primarily studies bilingualism formed due to the contact of different languages. On the micro level, it primarily analyzes the value-based differences between various contrasting expressive forms within the same language from the perspective of stylistics. However, from a temporal perspective, this is also a phenomenon of language variation caused by contextual changes. Therefore, the dynamic study of these phenomena falls partly within the scope of (3).
(6) Studies language change from a diachronic perspective. It explores the process of language standardization in a certain region, the disappearance of dialects, and the formation and spread of new dialects in contact with the standard language. Additionally, phenomena such as language maintenance and variation caused by migration are also one of the topics of sociolinguistics.
(7) Primarily examines people's awareness of language systems and language use from a social perspective (impressions, sense of belonging, etc.) and the language functions related to this awareness, including the use of insults, lies, language taboos, and discriminatory language.
(8) Studies language acquisition from the perspective of sociolinguistics. For example, it examines the process of war orphans' families learning and mastering Japanese after returning to Japan, as well as the role of interlanguage.
(9) Traces and evaluates the history and practice of language policies in countries around the world. In Japan, reforms in writing, the promotion of "kana-kana kyokushi" (the principle of simplifying kanji), and the popularization of the common language have been grand goals of language planning since the Meiji Restoration. Additionally, the issue of teaching Japanese to foreigners is currently a matter of